New gift shop to open on Appletongate, Newark across from Newark’s Palace Theatre
A new shop is offering a range of handmade gifts and artisan treasures to suit all schedules.
Serendale on 21 Appletongate, Newark is set to open tomorrow (Saturday), offering traders and artisans a new opportunity to sell their products on an in-store market.
Having had a dream for seven years of opening her own shop, Maria Torres started bringing that dream to life a year ago with business plans and working on the numbers involved.
“It feels amazing to see it happening, and I am so happy that I am doing what I want and opening where people also have a space for them,” Maria said.
“It’s not just about what I make, but being able to give people the opportunity to shop local and to know that you will have a range of good homemade products just around the corner.”
Maria, originally from Venezuela, moved to England nine years ago and as a big creative, started The Cosy Shack in 2023, where she designs and creates tote bags, mugs, planners, bookmarks, metal pins, T-shirts and souvenirs such as magnets and keyrings.
She is also the co-organiser of Newark Makers Market, an indoor market at YMCA Community and Activity Village that started in March and is set to run every couple of months.
The new shop will sell a range of products, from Maria’s own to homemade jams and chutneys, coffee and artisanal goods.
The sellers will be from Newark and around the area such as Lincoln, Mansfield and Nottingham.
“I feel like the consumer behaviour is more towards online now and sometimes we can’t fight against it as much but now we can tell people that they can get all these amazing and different things from here, all in one place and no need to pay for postage or scroll,” Maria added.
The shop has an extra room which will be used to host classes and workshops dedicated to all ages and skills and aims to encourage people’s creativity.
There will be both day and evening sessions so people with office working hours are still able to attend.
Maria is looking at hosting Meet the Maker sessions, where customers get the chance to meet the person behind the product, ask questions, and learn more about the magic of making handmade products.
“There is nothing in Newark like this and if I didn’t do it I don’t know if anyone else would so I am really happy to see it happening and I hope people enjoy it as much as I will,” added the shop owner.
The shop will be open Wednesday to Thursday from 10am until 4pm; Friday from 10am until 6pm; Saturday from 10am until 5pm and Sunday from 10am until 3.30pm.
On days when creative sessions are taking place, the shop will be open till later.
